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hey guys well i'm from philadelphia and almost every winter it snows and i dont know if i should be driving my car to work because im scared i would get stuck like the other rwd cars. =( so i want to know your opinion is it good or bad?
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Cold Weather
I would recommend working on getting a set of alternate rims and winter tires. The rims can be complete garbage (mine are mismatched ), but it makes any winter condition drivable, and even fun! (as long as you are still clearing the snow with your air dam, but if you aren't, no one else should be on the road there anyway, the government would probably be shut down) If you take this route, buy them sometime between now and September, when the prices start climbing on them again. Get them in the summer when no one is looking and you can pay significantly less.
Cold itself is nothing to worry about unless your ignition system is weak. Stay on top of your ignition system (learn to subconsciously pay attention to the stability of the revs and how smooth, or not, the power band is, etc... Start feeling that hesistation and roughness, and it doesn't go away with WOT runs to redline, your ignition system is starting the downhill. Doesn't mean it will go right away, but the longer you wait, the greater and greater your flood risk, power loss, and mileage drop.
Also throwing in that I have driven my 8 through the last 3 New England winters. The car you have doesn't matter for anything but sheer ground clearance. FWD vehicles and SUVs are more likely to have more winter friendly tires on OEM, sports cars are more likely to have OEM summer tires, and this is where the difference is. As long as you have ground clearance though, my 8, with winter tires, will out-drive any SUV or jeep on OEM tires. My work is on a hill, the highest point in the state, and each winter I regularly climb the last steep hill into work, often winding my way around stuck SUVs and trucks.
Outside of tires, the 8 is low torque, more weight over the rear than most big engined sports cars, and a great set of driver aids. My only concern for driving it in the winter at all is the salt. The only time I got stuck was when it started dumping snow and the plows were not sent out until literally half of the state was stranded in gridlock and ditches, and the snow was simply too deep to push through. The low ground clearance was a bonus though, I was one of the first stuck, and thus got one of the only tow trucks. The tow truck got stuck on my street about 30 yards from my driveway after dropping my 8 off. Even he needed the extra weight at that point.
Fail... the OP does not even say where they live. I would advise you go to the regional forums and ask people that have experiance with it. 2wd low profile sports cars are generally poor performing in snow of course. So your drive location, route and what services are provided to you as in snow plowing and salt etc.
There is a winter tire sticky too in wheels & tires.
I think RIWWP's spot on. The tires matter more than the car. I've driven my fair share in the snow in a number of cars. My 8 with snow tires is better than any of my previous vehicles with all-seasons. I made it safely up and down many hills last winter that most cars would have been stranded or sliding back down.
OP check the For Sale sections. I think there are a couple sets of snow tires and wheels there. Allseason's won't get you far and summer tires will get you nowhere.
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Originally Posted by bse50
I can't beat nature and the silly joke it made of you the day you were born, sorry Fuz.
I think RIWWP's spot on. The tires matter more than the car. I've driven my fair share in the snow in a number of cars. My 8 with snow tires is better than any of my previous vehicles with all-seasons. I made it safely up and down many hills last winter that most cars would have been stranded or sliding back down.
OP check the For Sale sections. I think there are a couple sets of snow tires and wheels there. Allseason's won't get you far and summer tires will get you nowhere.
It's all that torque the 8 produces that pushes you up that hill
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Originally Posted by WinningRX8Chick
Oh I go down..I play with *****.
Get in, sit down, shut up, and hold on!!
The RX-8 is like cocaine. It is addictive as hell, will run you broke, and your wife will leave you unless she is an addict too.
I live in the Philadelphia suburbs and have been driving my 8 in the snow for seven years. I've never had a problem with traction, BUT I do have four wheel snow tires on separate rims. I don't think that there is any other way to do it. The car even did well last Winter with the multiple 2 foot snows. Just get some snows and drive away.
yeah bro, I'm from Lancaster PA..get some good winter tires and you'll be fine.
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2006 Winning Blue Sport M/T, smoked tail lights, stealth side markers, 20% tint all around, Mitsubishi Evo 8 rims, K&N Typhoon Intake V2, Agency Power catback exhaust
I'm just doing the separate car thing, though I agree about the "quality of the rubber" comments. I'd been running all-seasons on my Lancer for the first few years that I owned it. It was fine when it was cold but snow?
Last winter, I bought a set of wheels and snows and that thing is a MONSTER in the snow now. Ridiculous amount of traction. Totally worth it.
Just gonna drive that in the snow and save the 8 for when it's not snowing. All-seasons will be good enough for cold (yet dry) weather.
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2006 Winning Blue Sport M/T, smoked tail lights, stealth side markers, 20% tint all around, Mitsubishi Evo 8 rims, K&N Typhoon Intake V2, Agency Power catback exhaust
ok thanks guys nice.... i didnt know that you were from philly. we should have a philly meet after winter when i get my rims =D ( and ill looking for winter tires)
how's the rx8 in the snow?
I do however use my stock rims w/blizzaks for the winter and i cant see doing it any other way after using them.
Linear Mode
